Results 15,181-15,200 of 15,994 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (29 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: The major building project referred to by the Deputy has just recently completed an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b), which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. A scope change to increase the number of classrooms and proposals from the Local Authority to alter the road and access layouts at the school site...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (29 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year, over 172,500 children, are transported daily in approximately 7,900 vehicles across 10,300 routes daily to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. These daily trips cover over 100 million kilometres. This figure includes...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (29 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 928, 971 and 974 together. Following the implementation of calculated grades in 2020 and the dual approach of examinations and accredited grades in 2021, two types of intervention have been implemented in recent years: adjustments to examination and assessments arrangements, and a post-marking adjustment to outcomes. This post-marking adjustment has...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (29 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that my department has no current record of receiving an application for additional accommodation from the school in question. The purpose of my department's additional schools accommodation (ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Education Needs (SEN) accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reviews (29 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: In March 2025, the department commenced a review on the current terms and conditions of the Leave of Absence following Assault Scheme for teachers and special needs assistants. This review involves negotiations with the Education Partners, whereby Management Bodies and the relevant Trade Unions are given the opportunity to provide comments and observations on the current scheme. Following...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (29 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: Under Section 38 of the Teaching Council Act, all initial teacher education programmes must be accredited by the Teaching Council for registration purposes. The Council reviewed its policy on standards for programmes of initial teacher education and published updated standards in Céim Standards for Initial Teacher Education (ITE) in October 2020. The revised standards place inclusive...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (29 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: Under Section 38 of the Teaching Council Act, all initial teacher education (ITE) programmes must be accredited by the Teaching Council for registration purposes. The professional accreditation standards for ITE were reviewed by the Teaching Council, taking account of the recommendations of Sahlberg II report (Structure of Teacher Education in Ireland: Review of Progress in Implementing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pension Provisions (29 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: Eligibility for the state pension is determined by the Department of Social Protection and any queries in relation to same should, in general, be forwarded to that department. The person referred to by the Deputy is a former employee of St Angela’s College, now amalgamated with the Atlantic Technological University (ATU), and all queries regarding her employment, including her PRSI...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Social Media (29 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 sets out the Department’s policy approach to continue the progress made in embedding digital technology in teaching and learning in primary and post-primary schools. The Strategy was published in 2022 with the delivery of actions under the associated implementation plan underway. Online safety and the safe and ethical use of digital technologies...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Programmes (29 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: Work on the development of a new policy for Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht is in progress in my Department. This policy will sit within the overall framework of the 20-year Strategy for the Irish language and will build on the achievements of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education. Among the objectives for the new policy are exploring how opportunities for the establishment of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reports (29 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: Work is currently underway in my department on the development of a new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht. A comprehensive consultation process has been conducted to inform the policy on Irish-medium education. In excess of 5,400 questionnaires were completed; 216 children and young people and 92 adults participated in focus groups; 71 written submissions were...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (29 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: Work is currently underway in my department to develop a new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht. One of the key objectives of this policy, among other things, is examining how the supply of teachers and other staff with a high standard of Irish can be increased to meet demand in Irish-medium education settings. The policy, together with an action plan, is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Bodies (29 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to expand opportunities for pupils and students to attend Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí, to establish Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí where there is demand, and also, to support parents choosing Irish-medium education for their children. Work is currently underway in my department to develop a new policy on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (29 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: The project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects. The project is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural planning design process with a full grant of planning permission received for the school. The NDFA’s Design Team is presently working to conclude the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (29 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy, is currently at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning - Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design, where the Design Team secure all statutory applications and prepare the tender documents. The Board of Management and their Design Team lodged the application for planning permission in September 2023, and received a request...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (29 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) as part of a programme of school building projects (Project Boyne). The project received full grant of planning permission and is now at Stage 3 of the architectural planning design process - Tender stage. Tender evaluation meetings are currently ongoing as per the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (29 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Major Project for the school referred to by the Deputy consists of the demolition of the existing Senior school and the Construction of a new 12 Mainstream Classroom Primary school with 2 classrooms for children with Special Educational Needs on the Senior school's existing site. There are 6 Classrooms currently in the Junior school which are to be retained The major building project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (29 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: The major project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Departments ADAPT Programme. ADAPT is an acronym for "Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning and Tendering". The ADAPT programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe during the stages of architectural planning. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (29 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy will deliver a new 1,000 pupil post primary school and accommodation including 6 classrooms for children with special educational needs. It is intended that the project will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme which uses a professional external Programme Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Integrated...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (29 Apr 2025)

Helen McEntee: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy will deliver a new 16 classroom primary school with accommodation and 4 classrooms for children with special educational needs. It is intended that the project will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme which uses a professional external Programme Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Integrated Project Team...